FTW04LA046

The private pilot was attempting to land in a field near a local automobile dealership when his tail boom became entangled in a guy wire. The pilot reported making two close, left-hand patterns around the area to select the best landing site. After a site was determined to be safe, he made an additional short downwind, base and final steep approach into the wind. The pilot further reported that he was aware of the power lines, but did not see the light-gray colored wire that ran between them. After making several attempts to maintain a level attitude, the pilot gently lowered the nose of the helicopter onto the ground and rested it on the front of the skids, with the tail still snagged in the wire.

On December 20, 2003, at 1100 central standard time, a Bell 206B helicopter, N62HF, was substantially damaged when the tail boom struck a guy-wire while on short approach to a field in Henryetta, Oklahoma. The private pilot and the two passengers were not injured. The helicopter was registered to and operated by Cayman Helicopters, LLC. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight that originated at the Arlington Municipal Airport (GKY), Arlington, Texas, about 0930, and conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.

In a written statement, the pilot stated that he was attempting to land in a field adjacent to an automobile dealership. He made two close, left-hand patterns around the area to select the best landing site. After a site was determined to be safe, the pilot made an additional short, downwind base and final steep approach into the wind. The approach was made over the power lines and between two poles, which supported the wires. The pilot reported that he was aware of the power lines, but did not see the light-gray colored wire that ran between them.

The pilot made a slow approach to the site, but the lower vertical stabilizer caught the wire, cut into it about 10-inches, and destroyed both tail rotor blades. He said the tail boom became firmly attached to the wire, which enabled the helicopter to go into a dynamic "spin" or a level descent for landing. After making several attempts to maintain a level attitude, the pilot gently lowered the nose of the helicopter onto the ground and rested it on the front of the skids, with the tail still snagged in the wire. The right skid fractured.

The pilot made a normal engine shut down of the engine and each occupant exited the helicopter.

A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector, who travelled to the accident site, performed an examination of the helicopter. According to the inspector, the helicopter struck the wire on the aft portion of the tail, just forward of the lower vertical stabilizer, and cut into it about 10-inches. Both tail rotor blades were damaged, and there was a hole in one of the main rotor blades, about 14-inches from the butt of the blade.

The pilot reported a total of 563 flight hours, of which 347 hours were in make and model.

Weather reported at Okmulgee Regional Airport (OKM), Okmulgee, Oklahoma, at 1053, was reported as wind from 190 degrees at 9 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, and clear skies.